April 27, 2009

Just Tell Me This Matters

Sunday 5 a.m. -- wake up (at home), grab coffee, oatmeal. 5:45 a.m.-- throw shorts, shoes, shirt on, out the door at 6 a.m. Jog up to local soccer fields for 10 x 3/400meter pickups. LAX to Boston flight out at 10:30 a.m. Glancing at watch more than usual. I make it through workout with time to spare. No time to waste. Jog home to shower, see my wife, kids for a few minutes. Out the door for airport. 10:40 a.m. flight departs. 7 p.m. (east coast time) flight lands in Boston. 8 p.m. -- arrive at hotel near airport, eat dinner, 9 p.m. in bed, asleep. Monday 5 a.m. (yes, 2 a.m. pacific time) wake up, grab coffee, oatmeal. 5:45 – throw shorts, shoes, shirt on, out the door at 6 a.m. (3 a.m. pacific time). Jog through old town of Revere to the Massachusetts shore for 8.4 mile out and back run. 7:01 a.m. -- stop to crouch down for photo of large shell illuminated by the rising sun. Glance at watch. Time is tight, but I won’t let it control my mood. Seagulls screech over my head and on the sand around me. They’re emboldened by the ebbing tide. They embolden me. 7:10 a.m. I find my stride. Wow, my training is really working. 8:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m. pacific time) I’m off to my meeting. 4:30 p.m. flight home lifts off. 6:11 p.m. -- I write this blog, sitting on the plane, listening to Linkin Park’s “Numb”. It helps my mood. I think of tomorrow morning. It's 5 a.m. pacific time, I wake up, grab coffee, oatmeal. I crouch down at 6 a.m. to lace up my shoes, I pause.

My mind flashes forward. I can hear my foot steps, and a voice. I don’t know who’s voice it is. But it’s familiar. Its reassuring, and tells me something I’m beginning to understand, but haven’t fully grasped. It just tells me this matters.

Staying physically fit. Seeing how much we can accomplish. Having a wonderful hobby and being part of a wonderful ultrarunning community.

But so does time with the kids and wife.

I think juggling all the training, along with still being available for quality time with the family is one of the great challenges for some of us.

In answer to your question, ultra running matters (to me), and I only hope that any time that it takes away from my family does not ultimately do them harm or harm my marriage.

For if it ever came down to going back to just running 6 miles a day 5 days a week, or losing my wife and family, I don't have to tell you that the ultra running would go right out the door!!! And pronto!

Thank you so so much for your comment on my post yesterday. First, it means a lot that you took the time to provide your advice, and secondly, it all makes a whole lot of sense. I will go out tomorrow to see if Traumeel is sold here north of the border. Thanks again :)

About Me

I'm a father, husband, son, brother, runner and CEO. I took up running after college to keep it real and take the edge off of daily life. Follow me along my journey to run ultra marathons and other mind altering events.

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